| Subject: | Fuel tank vent hose leakage |
| Components covered: |
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| Investigations Summary: | This investigation was opened on May. 22, 2000. It was closed on Jan. 4, 2001. Periodic exposure to liquid gasoline may result in extraction of antidegradants from the subject fuel tank vent hose. Hoses which have suffered loss of antidegradants can develop cracks in areas of high strain. Fuel may spray or drip from cracked vent hoses following tank fill. Starting at job#1 1998 my (California emissions vehicles) and job#1 1999 my (federal emissions vehicles), the subject vent hose composition changed from nitrile rubber hoses with chloroprene rubber covers (nbr/cr) to fluorocarbon rubber hoses with an outer layer blend of nbr/pvc. The changes were made to improve hydracarbon resistance for complaince with new evaporative emissions regulations. The modified hoses are also significantly more resistant to degradation and cracking. In a letter dated January 2, 2001, Ford notified NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall campaign to replace the subject vent hose in affacted vehicles. Ford will "begin notifying customers of the affected vehicles on or about the week of February 12, 2001 to return their vehicles to dealers for replacement of the fuel tank vent hose with the latest design lever part. " |
| Vehicles Affected by this investigation: |
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